Nepal’s Army Chief Gen Rajendra Chhetri is likely to leave for a week-long trip to China on March 27 to strengthen bilateral military ties between the two countries, Nepali sources confirmed to The Hindu on Thursday.
The visit of Gen Chhetri, announced in Kathmandu by the Spokesperson of the Nepalese Army on Wednesday, has drawn attention as it will begin on Sunday when Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli will return to Kathmandu after completing his high profile weeklong trip to China during which Nepal signed a landmark Agreement of Transit and Trade with China.
Strengthen military tiesGen Chhetri is likely to express Nepal’s appreciation of the medical and military support provided by the Chinese military following the devastating earthquake of April 2015.
Military experts have told The Hindu that the visit of the Army Chief of Nepal immediately after the visit of Mr. Oli follows the pattern of visit to Beijing by Pakistani civilian and military leaders. “We have seen in the past instances of Pakistani military chiefs visiting China soon after the visit to Beijing by Pakistani Prime Ministers. Nepali Army Chief’s visit appears on the same style of civil-military engagement policy of China, which reflects coordination between different wings of Nepali government and China,” Brig. (retired) Gurmeet Kanwal told The Hindu . Gen. Chhetri was in India two months ago to become the Honorary General of the Indian Army following an old bilateral tradition between India and Nepal.
The Nepalese Army has grown in international importance due to its involvement in multilateral peacekeeping missions across the world. However, it has been noted recently for being the chief agency to provide relief after April 2015 earthquake. Nepalese Army’s global network was also noted on March 10 when Gen. Chhetri held a review of the post-earthquake developments alongwith representatives from U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) in Kathmandu.
